Irrigation tower anchor system

Abstract

An anchor system comprising an anchor set in a ground surface and a brace attached to a movable section of an irrigation system. The anchor includes a base configured to engage the ground surface so as to secure the anchor in the ground surface, a vertical member extending upwards from the base, and a head attached near the top of the vertical member and spaced from the ground surface when the anchor is secured in the ground surface. The brace is operable to engage the anchor and includes an open-ended central channel for receiving the head therein and an open-ended slot along a bottom side for receiving the vertical member therein. The slot is narrower than the head so as to prevent the head from passing vertically therethrough.

1 . An anchor system for use on a movable irrigation system, the anchor system comprising:
 an anchor including a base configured to engage a ground surface so as to secure the anchor on the ground surface, a vertical member extending upwards from the base, and a head attached near a top end of the vertical member and spaced from the ground surface when the anchor is secured in or on the ground surface; and   a brace configured to be coupled to a movable section of the irrigation system and being operable to engage the anchor, the brace including an open-ended central channel for receiving the head therein and an open-ended slot along a bottom side for receiving the vertical member therein, the slot being narrower than the head so as to prevent the head from passing vertically therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The anchor system in  claim 1 , wherein the channel and slot each present opposite ends, are open-ended at both ends, and are operable to allow the head and vertical member to pass horizontally therethrough, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The anchor system of  claim 2 , wherein the slot is flared so as to be widest at its ends. 
     
     
         4 . The anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical member includes an upper section, a lower section, and a coupling structure that permits the upper section and the lower section to be coupled to each other in a plurality of vertical positions so the vertical member has an adjustable overall vertical length. 
     
     
         5 . The anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein the brace is operable to be moved between a stored position and an engaging position. 
     
     
         6 . The anchor system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a brace motor operable to move the brace between the stored and engaging positions; and   a controller communicatively coupled to the brace motor and operable to instruct the brace motor to move the brace between the stored and engaging positions.   
     
     
         7 . The anchor system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor operable to sense a proximity of the anchor and generate a proximity reading representative of the proximity of the anchor; and   a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor and to a motor of the movable section, the controller being operable to determine a location of the brace in relation to the anchor based on the proximity reading and to instruct the motor to stop when the brace is in a location for engaging the anchor.   
     
     
         8 . The anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein the brace further includes at least one catch biased towards a closed position and operable to passively allow the anchor to come into engagement with the brace whereby the anchor overcomes a biasing force of the catch and urges the catch towards an open position, the catch further operable to prevent the brace from disengaging from the anchor unless the catch receives an external input. 
     
     
         9 . The anchor system of  claim 1 , further comprising a crop guard mounted to the movable section of the irrigation system and in front of the brace, the crop guard extending rearward and outwardly from the movable section and being operable to urge crops away from the brace when the irrigation system moves along the ground surface. 
     
     
         10 . An anchor system for use in a movable irrigation system, the anchor system comprising:
 an anchor configured to be secured to a ground surface at a predetermined location;   a brace coupled to a movable section of the irrigation system and operable to engage the anchor when the movable section of the irrigation system and hence the brace is at the predetermined location; and   a controller operable to determine a location of the brace relative to the predetermined anchor location and operable to instruct a motor of the movable section to propel the movable section so as to direct the brace to the predetermined location.   
     
     
         11 . The anchor system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is communicatively connected to a global positioning satellite system and is operable to receive data representative of the brace location therefrom. 
     
     
         12 . The anchor system of  claim 10 , wherein the movable irrigation system is a center pivot irrigation system and the anchor location and the brace location are represented in angular metrics, the anchor system further comprising an angular sensor operable to detect an angular location of the brace, and the controller being communicatively coupled to the angular sensor for receiving data representative of the angular location of the brace from the angular sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The anchor system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a wind sensor communicatively coupled to the controller and operable to detect a wind speed and communicate readings representative of the wind speed to the controller, the controller being operable to instruct the motor of the movable irrigation system to propel the movable member so as to direct the brace to the predetermined location when the wind speed exceeds a predetermined value.   
     
     
         14 . The anchor system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is further operable to instruct the motor to resume normal operation when the wind speed decreases below a predetermined value. 
     
     
         15 . The anchor system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a brace motor drivably coupled to the brace and operable to move the brace between a stored position and an engaging position, the controller being communicatively coupled to the brace motor and being operable to instruct the brace motor to move the brace to the engaging position when the brace approaches the anchor and to move the brace to the stored position when the brace moves away from the anchor.   
     
     
         16 . The anchor system of  claim 15 , wherein the brace motor is further operable to move the brace into vertical contact with the anchor so as to create a more secure connection therebetween when the brace is in engagement with the anchor. 
     
     
         17 . The anchor system of  claim 10 , wherein the anchor includes an anchor motor operable to retract or extend the anchor between a stored position and an engaging position, respectively, the anchor being completely or mostly contained within the ground when in the stored position. 
     
     
         18 . The anchor system of  claim 17 , wherein the anchor motor is further operable to move the anchor into vertical contact with the brace so as to create a more secure connection therebetween when the brace is in engagement with the anchor. 
     
     
         19 . The anchor system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the anchor motor and operable to instruct the anchor motor to extend to the engaging position when the brace approaches the anchor and to retract the anchor into the stored position when the brace moves away from the anchor. 
     
     
         20 . An anchor system for use in a movable irrigation system, the anchor system comprising:
 an anchor configured to be secured to a ground surface at a predetermined location and including a base configured to engage the ground so as to secure the anchor therein, a vertical member extending from the base, and a head near the top of the vertical member and spaced from the ground surface;   a brace coupled to a movable section of the irrigation system and operable to engage the anchor when the brace is at the predetermined location, the brace including an open-ended central channel for receiving the head therein and an open-ended slot along a bottom side for receiving the vertical member therein, the slot being narrower than the head so as to prevent the head from passing vertically therethrough;   a controller operable to determine a location of the brace relative to the predetermined anchor location and operable to instruct a motor of the movable section to propel the movable section so as to direct the brace to the predetermined location; and   a crop guard mounted to the movable section of the irrigation system and in front of the brace, the crop guard extending rearward and outwardly from the movable section and being operable to urge crops away from the brace when the irrigation system moves along the ground surface.